South Canterbury, N.Z.

Closer Settlement

In 1894 the Seddon Government passed the Land Settlement Act. This gave
the Hon. John McKenzie, minister of lands, the power to break up large estates
for closer settlement. Setters were able to lease the farms and runs for a
perpetuityfixed rental or renewable leases and were given the option of
acquiring the land the freehold. The land was classified as first class or
second class land, depending on if it was arable or too hilly to be worked.
All the Government acquired settlements were subdivided into farms and runs and
balloted off. Runs were larger acreage with hilly land and often paired
with farm land. Some farmers exchanged their leases for perpetuity tenure which
gave then a longer termed lease and reduced the rent. Over the following decades
some farmers with grazing runs freeholded their properties as
they expected rental rates would increase.

In 1906 crown land in NZ was administered by the Hon. the Minister of Lands..
The colony was divided into ten land districts under a local commissioner and it
was at these offices the selector transacted all business from the first
consultation of the maps to the final receipt of the title. Crown land classed
1. Town and village lands - sold at auction
2. Suburban lands - sold at auction
3. Rural lands - - sold at auction
4. Pastoral lands -rural land unsuitable for cultivation- leased by auction
No rural section was larger than 640 acres of first class land or 2,000 of mixed
qualification, not more than 640 acres of the same being first class.
Landless persons were able to select up to the maximum; landholders only to an
extent which did not bring their aggregate holding over the maximum.
Small grazing runs could not exceed -first class, 5,000 acres; second class,
20,000 acres.
pastoral runs are limited to area of a carrying capacity of 20,000 sheep, or
4,000 cattle.
No person can select more than one run. Mode of Acquiring
1. By auction, after survey, 1/5 of the price is paid down at at time of sale,
the balance within thirty days.
2. By application, after the lands have been notified for selection, in which
case the applicant fills up a form from the land office and makes the
declaration and deposit.
Land thrown open for application not selected the first day remain open. When
there were more applicants than one, the applications were determined by ballot.
The successful applicant got the section under the tenure chosen in his
application. The Tenures
1. Freehold for cash
2. Occupation with right of purchase
3. Lease in perpetuity (the tem of lease 999 years). The lessee has no right to
at any time acquire the freehold.
4. Small grazing runs
5. Pastoral runs
6. Grazing licenses in goldfields
8. Worker's dwellings.

PUNAORA
A large number of applicants were present at the ballot for sections on the old
Three Springs Estate, on Friday, notwithstanding the miserable weather, light
snow and rain falling all the afternoon. The ballot was held in the public hall,
Fairlie, and there were on the stage Mr Sydney Weetman, Chief Commissioner of
Crown Lands, Messrs McLachlan and A. Pringle, "members of the Land Board, also
Mr Williams, Crown Lands Ranger, and Mr March, Superintendent of Village
Settlements. Major Steward, M.H.R.. was also present and acted, as arbiter of
fate in drawing the lucky numbers from the ballot box. There were about 130
applicants, nearly :e half of them local residents, and no less is than 35 for
one section. Local men who were unsuccessful, are already talking about another
block being required. We republish the latter part of the list to-day corrected
: The numbers represent the block, section, area (to nearest acre), rent per
acre, and number of applicants for the lot ; the names are those of the
successful applicants : Second Class Agricultural Land:
I.� 1, 259 ac, 3a 6d, 16, D. Walters, Silverstream.
2, 366a., 3a 6d, 1, Hugh Ross, Fairlie.
4, 336a., 4s 9d, 23, Mary Jane Wilson, Greenpark, 7,558a.,
5a 6d, 15, Margaret Muir, Burkes Pass.
V.� 2, 795a., 43, 14, W. Arden, Lincoln.
Small grazing run, V. � 1, 2143a,, 2s. � Alice N. Harris, Kurow.

In 1899 the Government
bought the remainder of the Pareora Estate (8065 acres) for
�72,000, from the
New Zealand & Australian Land Company. Lyalldale. March 30th 32 settlers drew ballots to lease on
perpetuity. Sprinbrook (620 acres) touches the Lyalldale blockOtaio Settlement (374 acres) touches the Lyalldale blockKohika Settlement (1713 acres and 2107 acres) was acquired by the
Govt. and leased in perpetuity on 13th May 1901, S. of Lyalldale.

Evening Post, 27 April 1901, Page 4The Kohika Settlement in South Canterbury will (says the Christchurch Press) be
opened for selection on the lease in perpetuity system on Monday, 13th May. The
area to be available is 3864 acres. The land was recently acquired by the
Government under the Land for Settlement Act. It was part of of well-known Otaio
Estate, the property of Mr. T. J. Teschemaker. It is situated in Waimate County,
and is distant 20 miles from Timaru. The whole of the settlement is described as
being admirably adapted for mixed farming. It has produced heavy crops of wheat
and up to 60 bushels of oats to the acre, and excellent root crops have been
grown on every portion of it. The land has been under cultivation for about 20
years. It has been carefully worked, and from no portion of it have more than
four white crops been taken.

Evening Post, 18 May 1901, Page 5TIMARU, This Day. A ballot was held to-day for the Kohika Settlement, eighteen
miles from Timaru, and five from the railway. The total area was 3820
acres, in fifteen sections of from 139 to 391 acres each, and the rentals were
fixed at from 5s 9d to 9s 4d per acre, the average being 7s 4d. There were 104
applicants in all, and from seventeen to thirty-one for each lot. Nine lots fell
to single men, and six to men from beyond South Canterbury, one applicant from
Taranaki being successful.

Hawera & Normanby Star,
15 June 1901, Page 2The Timaru Herald learns that Mr R. H. Rhodes has offered to the
Government Land Purchase Board, at the Government valuation, his
Bluecliffs estate, less a homestead of about 2000 acres Bluecliffs
adjoins the Kohika Settlement, recently purchased from Mr Teschemaker,
and balloted for the other day. The Bluecliffs estate comprises about
10,000 acres of freehold. Otago Witness, 2 March 1904, Page 32On Wednesday three runs in the Waimate County No. 44 Bluecliffs (17,000
acres), No. 50 Mount Studholme (6300 acres), and No. 638 Yellow Hill
(663 acres) � were offered for sale at the Timaru Land Office, when
there were about 20 persons present. The Bluecliffs Run, at present held
by Mr R. H. Rhodes, was offered for a term of 14 years, at an upset
rental of �375, per annum. No bid was made, and the run was passed in
for private application. This run was offered some time ago at a rental
�50 higher than now, and found no bidders. Mount Studholme Run, offered
for 10 years at an upset of �180, was leased to the present holders, the
executors of the late Mr A. Hayes. The Yellow Hill Run, previously
forfeited, was leased for 10 years to Mr W. R. McLaren at the upset
rental of �31 15s.

Otago Witness, 17 March 1892, Page 16
The first sale of the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company's properties is
announced to take place at Timaru on the 26th April, when the Riverslea and
Arowhenua estates, comprising 9244 acres, will be submitted for auction.

Evening Post, 19 March 1892, Page 2
The first sale of farm lands in South Canterbury belonging to the Bank of
Zealand Estates Company is announced to take place at Timaru by Messrs.
Guinness and LeCren, in connection with the N.Z.L. M.A. Co., on 26th April.
The properties to be submitted are the Riverslea and Arowhenua estates about
11,000 acres altogether.

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1892, Page 2
Timaru, April 26. The first sale of the Bank of New Zealand Assets Company's
estates was held here to-day, and it drew a large attendance of farmers, but
not many bidders and few if any strangers, and purchasers (10 in number)
were all old settlers in the locality. A little complaint was made at the
grouping of some smaller lots in pairs. The auctioneer (Mr Guinness)
remarked that there was a good opportunity to teas the genuineness of the
cry that large estates should be cut up. The Riverslea estate, one of the
richest pieces of land in in South Canterbury, on the south bank of the
Orari at the sea, the bidding was active for some lots, but low for others.
The prices ranged from L 9 to L 25 10s and 1720 acres fetched L 29,431. The
goodwill of the education reserve lease L 204. The sale of the Arowhenua
block was a failure, only one lot of 149 acres going at L 6. There were no
offers for the others.

Otago Witness, 28 April 1892, Page 32
THE ESTATES COMPANY'S FIRST SALE.
Timaru, April 26. The first sale of the Estates Company's lands, held here
to-day, was well attended by the farmers of the district, fully 300 of them
being present, besides others; but not many were bidders. Few, if any,
strangers were present, and the purchasers were all old settlers in the
neighbourhood. Before the sale commenced, Mr R. Guinness, auctioneer,
explained ' that certain lots advertised separately would be sold in pairs
viz., 3 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and 14. This departure was
made a matter of complaint by a few persons. Mr Guinness stated it never had
been contemplated to sell these separately, and the mistake had been made in
preparing the plans in Auckland. The sections paired are on opposite sides
of a road. Mr Guinness made a few remarks on the excellent opportunity now
offered to test the genuineness of the cry that large blocks in the hands of
companies or individuals should be cut up. He expatiated on the fertility of
Riverslea, and its suitability for small farms, while the terms were very
liberal, as the two grain crops allowed would yield half the purchase money
before payment was required. A start was made with Riverslea, in the order
and with the results as below. The bidding for some lots was keen, and in
other 5 cases where sales were effected slow:

Total of Riverslea freehold sold, 1720 acres realising L 29,431.
The goodwill of leases (two Education reserves near Riverslea) were offered.
One of 399 acres, the lease having five years to run, at a rental of L171
17s 6d per annum, was keenly competed for, and bought By Mr McCully for L
204. For the large reserve of 1192 acres, lease six years to run, rental L
615 13s l0d, no offer was made.
In the Arowhenua estate, the lots remote from the homestead were offered,
first. Lots 18 and 19, 180 acres, and lot 20, 100 acres, brought no bid. For
lot 51, 360 acres, bids started at L6 and stopped at L 7 10s, when it was
passed in. Lot 14, 149 acres was sold to W. Page at the first and last bid
of L 6. - Six or seven other lots were passed without offer, and the,
auctioneer stopped the sale, as if the upper blobk was not sold the lower
must be retained to it. Any sections passed are, open for private treaty.
The principal buyers are already landowners close to Riverslea. After the
estates' sale two other farms were offered. W. Oldfield's, on the bank of
the Opihi, containing 200 acres brought no bid. The Seaforth farm, near the
coast at Washdyke, containing 670 acres cut into four, the buyer of one
having the option to take all, was passed in at Ll5 and Ll5 5s.

Otago Witness, 30 July 1896, Page 26 LAND PURCHASES BY THE STATE.
The price paid for the Arowhenua estate by the Government was �28,000, and
for the Albury estate �64,000 ; possession of the land will be given after
next shearing season, and meanwhile, sub divisional surveys and roading will
be put in hand, and the land will be ready for tenement next December.

North Otago Times, 30 November 1895, Page 2
The Government has bought Mr Quinn's farm of 386 acres at Milford, near
Timaru, at L20 per acre. The land is described as of exceptionally good
quality. The peculiarity of the purchase, however, lies in the fact that the
land is intended for the use of the Arowhenua village settlers. It has been
discovered that the Arowhenua village settlers cannot make a living on the
small pieces of land that had been allotted them, mainly because there was
no work to be got in the neighborhood. It was a case of starving on their
allotments or of the Government purchasing more land for them in the
neighborhood. The Government decided to purchase more land, and it will be
allotted solely to the Arowhenua village settlers, who will not be compelled
to live on it. This is an evidence that purely village settlements are not
required in New Zealand. There are enough men already located in the
townships to do all the work that is required in the country, and if further
settlement is carried on it must be on lines that will allow a man to make
living for himself and family entirely on his allotment.

West Coast Times, 16 September 1896, Page 2
The survey of the Arowhenua estate, says the Timaru Herald, is nearing
completion, and Temuka people are finding fault already with the areas laid
out. The lower portion is cut up into five farms, two of 90 acres, 140, 150
and the homestead with 640 acres. The upper portion into 22 lots, of which
nine are only 5 acres each, the next in size being 150 acres, and the rest
running up to over 400. The homestead farm is too big at one end, and 22
families could starve very successfully on five acres each further back.

Timaru Herald, 24 October 1898, Page 2
A ballot was held at the Land Office on Thursday for two sections of land of
40 acres each, that had been thrown open for selection on lease m
perpetuity. There were four applicants for Lot 31, Reserve 1126, near
Waimate, which was secured by Mr Ernest Cummings ; and for Lot 14. Reserve
1650, near the South Rangitata Railway Station, there were five applicants,
of whom Mr Robert Washington was successful.

Hawera & Normanby Star, 25 March 1897, Page 2
There was a great rush of applicants for the Arowhenua (Canterbury) Block
(39 lots), 218 persons applying at Temuka and at Timaru. There are probably
others at Christchurch. The majority are said to be desirable settlers.

New Zealand Tablet, 2 April 1897, Page 15
March 22nd The Rakitairi and Waiapi districts were visited by large crowd
yesterday. The town is crowded to-day, which has been fixed fur the
applications. There are many strangers here. The courthouse and the Temuka
Leader office have been literally besieged. There will be great excitement
on the ballot day, March 31st.

Timaru Herald, 1 April 1897, Page 3 The Arowhenua Estate
the ballot for allotments on the Arowhenua estate took place yesterday in
the Volunteer hall, Temuka. About 300 persons were present. Mr McLaughlan
was appointed to draw. Father and son in another case drew contiguous
allotments and the homestead block fell to Mr R. J. McCallum, who spent a
long portion of his boyhood there. The ballot started at 10 o'clock and
lasted two hours, or about 3 minutes to a section. The bulk of the
allotments fell to Temuka people.

Tuapeka Times, 27 May 1891, Page 5
One of the most successful settlements in Canterbury is the one at
Arowhenua. This settlement was formed, with several others, by the Hon Mr
Rolleston in 1875. The sum of L10 was the amount then advanced for cottages,
and the settlers erected very comfortable little huts. This might be termed
the first stage in connection with settlement. After a while these huts gave
place to two and three roomed cottages. Here we have the second stage the
village. Now you will see much larger dwellings, and the little settlement
has become a town, with its town board, etc., etc. ; and I venture to
predict that in due time Arowhenua will become a very prosperous city. To
return to the regulations, the erection of a cottage must be completed
within six months of the date of selection, and each settler must reside on
his section within that time. In bush lands this may be deferred until one
month after the first burn, but no longer.

Wanganui Chronicle 6 July 1914, Page 3
A return presented to Parliament today gives particulars of the cost of
acquiring estates under the Land for Settlement Acts.
Rosewill �246,022

Press, 19 March 1904, Page 8 THE ROSEWILL SETTLEMENT
The ballot for the Rosewill settlement took place in Timaru yesterday. The town
was thronged with people all day. It is by far the largest ballot of the kind
that n& ever taken place in Timaru, and the demand for land, so far from easing
off, appeared at the proceedings yesterday to be keener than ever. For the 200
sections available there were 690 applicant �not so large a number as was
expected, bat a great number had of necessity to be disappointed. Of this number
about 130 were discarded for reasons such as insufficient means, not landless,
and for failing to put-in an appearance; fourteen did not attend before the Land
Board for examination, and the actual number that went to the ballot was 561.
The ballot was held in the Theatre Royal, and at nine o'clock, the hour for
starting, a large crowd had gathered. Some of the applicants had previously made
three, four, and even five futile attempts to get land at other, ballots. A good
many ladies were included in the spectators. The proceedings concluded shortly
after 3. p.m. Only one application came from the North Island, the majority
coming from between Christchurch and Dunedin. There are over 2000 acres not
applied for, and Commissioner (Humphries announced at the ballot yesterday that
this land would be open to the disappointed ones, and if no fresh applications
were received for it, the ballot would probably take place in Christchurch on
Monday next. He therefore advised all who purposed applying for them, to send in
their applications at once. If new applicants, who had not been examined,
applied, the second ballot would have to be delayed. In some cases sections
-fell to applicants without going to the ballot, when there was only one
application in. Mr Humphries explained that on sections where there was groin
crops, the-previous owners of the estate were to be given time to remove it, but
in the meantime the settlers could be going on with their ploughing, and they
would be at liberty to put sheep-on paddocks where there were stacks, so long as
they did not put too many on, and cause the stacks to be damaged. Everything
passed off smoothly at the ballot though there were some rather long delays,
owing to the large number of. applications in for certain subdivisions. For
instance, for subdivision 30 there were no fewer than 53 applicants, and for 31
there were 40. In one case where there wore six applicants for two sections the
two balloted out were man and wife, and in another, case the first and the last
applicant .were the disappointed ones. The homestead block fell to Mr G. L.
Limbrick, of Christchurch. One applicant, who had put in for more than one
section, drew one that he did not want, and asked leave an hour later to
withdraw, and have the section balloted for again, but the Commissioner
would not allow this, as it would open the door to gambling in land and the
Beard had set its face against that, and was determined to stop it so far as lay
in its power. If the objection had been lodged as soon as the section was drawn,
the Commissioner said it might have been entertained, but the man had been in
the town since, and the Board could not tell what might have transpired, though
he did not think for a moment but that the case was a genuine one. Still,
if-they allowed one, they would have to allow all, and the Board had determined
rather than do this to make applicants forfeit their deposits if they refused to
take their sections, even though that deposit amounted to �100. He further said
that some applicants resented the close examination regarding their financial
position, but the Board had been had in the past, and had of necessity to take
every precaution.

Press, 23 March 1904, Page 7
Mr C. S. Howard, who has resigned the headmastership of the Richmond public
was a successful applicant for one of the Rosewill Settlement- sections not
originally applied for, which were dealt with by the Land Board yesterday.
Mr Howard was for years headmaster of the Richmond school, and has been in
the Education Board's service for thirty-five years.

Star 24 March 1904, Page 2
In the ballot the the Rosewill settlement two sections, comprising more than
320 acres, were drawn by married women, and it will consequently be
necessary to have a fresh ballot for these.

Star 9 March 1904, Page 2
Of the 680 applications received for allotments in the Rosewill Settlement,
470 came from Timaru.

Press, 14 May 1904, Page 6
John Kneller was allowed to surrender his lease of lot 140, Rosewill
Settlement, and it was decided to ask W. S. Wood, another applicant, whether
he is prepared to take up the section.

Ashburton Guardian, 7 May 1904, Page 2
Enquiry is often made as to why the name of the Levels Estate was changed to
Rosewill, and some speculation has taken place as to the derivation of the
latter name. An explanation was given at a meeting of a public body held in
Timaru the other day, a member stating that the Government named the estate
after the Hon. W. Hall Jones and Mrs Hall Jones, whose respective Christian
names of Rose and Will they coupled, to form the name of Rosewill.

Press, 27 May 1904, Page 4
There were eleven applicants for section 106, Rosewill Settlement, five of
whom were approved by the Land Board for admission to the ballot. The
successful applicant was Mr John Armstrong, of Pleasant Point. The area is
498 acres, and the yearly rental �170 11s 4d.

Observer, 4 June 1904, Page 16
Outside Timaru there is an estate which the Government has lately taken over
for settlement, and upon which the name of Rosewill has been bestowed. This,
it is explained, is a combination of the Christian names of the Hon Mr
Hall-Jones and his wife.

Otago Witness 16 November 1904, Page 53
A boy named M'Leod, on the Rosewill Settlement, had his arm broken while
helping to yard some sheep. He was rounding them up, when a sheep charged
the dog and he got in the way, the sheep giving him a butt and tossing him
over, with the result stated.

Otago Witness, 12 October 1904, Page 36
In response to a petition from about 40 settlers in the locality the Post
master general has authorised the opening of a post office at Coal Creek, on
the Fairlie line, for the convenience of the compact block of the Rosewill
settlement, which is served by Coal Creek station. The office is named
Mawaro, which is the Maori equivalent for Coal Creek. For the present mails'
will be exchanged with Timaru three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Saturdays. There is no railway official or employee living at Coal Creek
station, but a request has been, made that one, of the surfacemen may be
given a cottage there, and his wife could act as postmistress. In the
meantime the post office is at Mr Welford's, and this will be a great
convenience to a considerable number of settlers who live away back from
Coal Creek.

Press, 7 January 1905, Page 6
The Mackenzie County Council decided on Thursday to constitute a now riding
at the south end of the present Albury riding, to be called the Cave Riding,
and to have one representative on the Council. As the population of that
district has been increased by the settlement of Rosewill, it was considered
advisable that it should be further represented.

Wanganui Herald, 13 September 1905, Page 7
The Rev. G. Barclay (South Canterbury) said there was not yet any school at
Rosewill settlement, although it had been settled two years.

Otago Witness 4 April 1906, Page 6
A Rosewill settler near Coal Creek has just threshed 47 bushels of wheat to
the acre, this yield being taken off land for which 6s per acre is paid by
way of rent. It was not taken off a few acres merely, but from something
over 100 acres. This (remarks the Timaru Post) is surely a complete answer
to those who say that the rents on the Rosewill settlement are too high.

Marlborough Express,
22 May 1906, Page 3
May 22. John Taehen, a farmer on the Rosewill settlement, dropped dead at
Pleasant Point township last evening. He had attended a stock sale during
the day, and was apparently in good health, though he was known to have a
weak heart. He was 52 years of age.

Hawera & Normanby Star, 3 August 1906, Page 4
The Rosewill Settlement has turned' out a very successful one, says the
Lyttelton Times. Of the value placed upon their holdings by some of the
lessees, the following is a good example: A farm of over 400 acres is in the
market. On it there are very few improvements, the house being of small
value, and for the goodwill �1700 is asked. The sum of �1300 has been
refused.

Star 10 January 1908, Page 3
The Canterbury Land Board met yesterday; present Messrs E. C. Goldsmith
(Commissioner of Crown Lands), A. C. Pringle, J. Scaly and J. Allan. A
further communication was received regarding the proposed acquisition of a
small area on Lot 20, Rosewill Settlement, as a site for a sheep-dip to be
erected by a company of Crown tenants in the vicinity of Albury. It was
resolved to recommend that the lessee should be allowed to surrender the
site, and that it should be then sold to the company under Section 84 of the
amended Act. It was resolved to obtain a report from the ranger in regard to
a complaint that the Mackenzie County Council was removing shingle for road
purposes from riverbeds within the county.

Otago Witness 5 February 1908, Page 53
Places are changing hands at very satisfactory figures. Mr J. J. Milne has
sold his L.I.P. farm to Mr J. T. Anderson,, and Mr T. F. Drake has disposed
of his 104-acre farm, adjoining the township, on the Rosewill Settlement, to
Mr C. Brosnahan, of the Levels Plains. Both Mr Milne and Mr Drake will be
much missed, as they were settlers of a good type, and anxious to forwards
the best interests of the district.

Press, 7 May 1909, Page 5
The meeting of the Canterbury Land Board yesterday.
In regard to H. B. Kirk's application for a renewal of the lease of Clay
Reserve 3600, Rosewill settlement, it was decided to grant a yearly lease.
In connection with the demolition of a building on E. H. Kelynaek's Lot 68,
Rosewill Settlement, in a heavy wind, the Board decided to recommend the
Government to release the lessee from any further payment.

Poverty Bay Herald, 14 March 1903, Page 1
The Land Board spent two and a half-days examining applicants for allotments
in the Chamberlain settlement. There were 17 farms, three grazing runs, and
191 applicants passed, 55 failing. The ballot will be held to-morrow.

Poverty Bay Herald, 14 March 1903, Page 3
TIMARU, this day The ballot for the Chamberlain settlement was held today.
William Stirling, schoolmaster, of Hawke's Bay, was one of the successful
applicants, securing section 2 of block ii., containing 388 acres.

Hawera & Normanby Star, 5 November 1903, Page 2
At the ballot for the Chamberlain Settlement, comprising twenty-three
sections, there were forty applicants who had two chances through relatives,
ten who had three, seven who had four, three who had five, and one who had
seven.

Wanganui Herald, 2 September 1905, Page 4 THE CROWN TENANTS
Chamberlain. � This settlement is making very marked progress. Several now
houses have been erected during the year,-besides outbuildings of various
kinds. The settlers are complying satisfactorily with the conditions, and
there is every indication that they will do well on their holdings.
Rosewill.� The, majority of the tenants have done remarkably well in
complying with the conditions; in most cases the buildings are good, and the
settlers have done a very large amount of work for the time they have had
the land, and much more will be accomplished during the coming year.

Fairlie - townRaincliff - (539 acres) one section, 25 June 1901 at
��85 per annum. The balance of the area,
207 acres, was set aside as a plantation reserve.

Otago Witness, 12 June 1901, Page 16South Canterbury notes, from last Saturday's Timaru Post : A section of the
Raincliff estate, consisting of 538 acres, will be thrown open by the Lands
department on June 25, and there is more than one application, a ballot will be
held in Christchurch on June 27. The section is 10 miles from Fairlie and 12
miles from Pleasant Point, and is described as good mixed land. About 250 acres
of the land have been, ploughed and are suitable for growing wheat. The rent is
3s 2d per acre, a total of �85 3s l0d per year.

Otago Witness, 10 May 1900, Page 11
Land Settlement. The balloting for Punaroa locally know as Three Springs,
is now of the past. The 7000 rural acres purchased by the Government last
October were subdivided into 16 farms, varying in area from 60 acres to 800
acres, at an annual rental of from 3s 6d to 9s per acre, and one small
grazing run of about 2000 acres at 2s. The major portion of the run is
purely pastoral, of but medium quality; but there is included in the total
area about 400 acres of good agricultural land, in several divisions, and
carrying a very large stone building, consisting of woolshed, stable,
storeroom, men's quarters, cook's galley, and also commodious sheepyards and
dips, and the minor accessories usually found on a sheep station. The
country comprising the settlement has never been put to it 3 utmost
producing capacity, either in carrying stock" or growing crops. For a number
of years it has been under capable management, and has earned a widespread
name; and consequently the ballot attracted considerable attention. The
result was; that 160 applications were received, out of which, for various
reasons, the Board of Examiners rejected a few. Every section was over
applied for, and especially so in the case of the larger blocks, for which
in some instances there were 20, 30, and 35 m the ballot. About half the
sections fell to local people. One small section still remains on the hands
of the department, the four parties who applied for it haying been,
successful in drawing sections earlier. The commissioner intimated that any
of the unsuccessful applicants could apply for it, but evidently, though of
equal area and quality to its neighbours, and the nearest to the township of
Fairlie and the railway, the considerable sized patch of Californian thistle
on it frightened would-be farmers. In reference to this noxious weed, it
seems strange that carswas not taken by the department to prevent the weed
from going to seed. The weed should be taken in hand at once � in fact, the
section should be at once withdrawn from offer, and the department undertake
to clear it of the thistle, "practically demonstrating to the neighbouring
holders how best to treat this scourge, which has got a pretty good hold
throughoutthe whole settlement and district. So far as I have learned, its
presence has not been taken seriously yet, settlers having to become
experienced of its devastating nature, and its tenaciousness once it gets in
the land.

Otago Witness, 31 May 1900, Page 4
The successful applicants for farms on the Punaroa settlement are not losing
much time in getting to work on their sections. Mr J. Trotter has two
ploughs going, Mr Adamson has a house in course of erection, and the tenant
of the small grazing run has gone into residence in the men's quarters
attached to the big wool shed. Grass is plentiful and fresh-looking all over
the estate, and as the farms are mostly laid off to suit the old fences,
stock can be put on at any time. � Timaru Herald.

Evening Post, 19 December 1902, Page 6
THE LEVELS ESTATE.
BOUGHT BY THE GOVERNMENT. TIMARU, This Day. The Mayor last evening received
a telegram from the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works, stating
that the Cabinet had decided to take the Levels Estate compulsorily. The
estate, which comprises about 45,000 acres of land of very varied character,
extends from within three miles of Timaru to Albury � about twenty miles in
a direct line. When addressing his constituents Mr. Hall-Jones spoke of a
quarter of a million as about the price offered by the Government.
Negotiations for the purchase of this estate have been going on for years.

Otago Witness, 7 October 1903, Page 33
The Levels. The acquisition of the Levels Estate by the Government is
locally a source of much satisfaction, as it must as a natural consequence
materially assist in the advancement of the district. A large area of this
big estate lies quite adjacent to the township (Albury) through which all
its trade and communication with other parts must, go. One of the
sub-dividing surveying parties is now camped in the vicinity, busy with the
work of cutting up.
The Levels Estate. The Commissioner of Lands have been visiting the
district with a view of conferring with the surveyors now engaged in
dividing the Levels Estate into suitable blocks regarding the size of the
sections. The Brothers Range is to be cut up into two small grazing runs,
and the land in the neighbourhood of Albury is to be surveyed into five acre
blocks. The ballot takes place in March, 1904.

Otago Witness 13 April 1904, Page 31
CAVE (South Canterbury). April 11. The Levels Estate is a thing of the past
now. There are naturally some disappointed at the way the ballot has gone. A
married woman got a section at the first ballot flint was above the acreage
that a married woman should get, and another drew one which was also above
the acreage, and she exchanged with it for another that was not so large.
Then at a second ballot for those sections that were not applied for at the
first ballot, another married woman drew one larger than she should have
got. So a protest was lodged against her, and she received notice that she
could not hold it. Those who got theirs at the first ballot got notice that
they could not have them either. A single woman drew a section larger than
either of the married women, and it seems strange that she should be
regarded as qualified to hold it. So apparently it is something to be in the
stare of single blessedness. Any young man contemplating entering into the
"united states" of matrimony should study this problem.

Otago Witness 16 March 1904, Page 31 CAVE (South Canterbury).
The Levels Estate. The great attraction here is the Levels estate. Our local
hotel has been crowded with people looking over the estate. Some nights a
number of visitors were glad of a shakedown but they could not leave our
boniface, as they all formed a golden opinion of him for his civility and
care to are that their comfort was attended to. The green hill is the fancy
spot of all looking for a grazing farm, and the block called the Pareora
Downs is the favourite place for mixed farming; while for wheat-growing the
limestone country is rushed with intending selectors. There are about 16
farms on the Cannington Valley road, and about 14 on the Coal Creek and
Gorge road, so it will make things in general more lively for those who are
in the back blocks when so many come to neighbour them. Messrs Elworthy
have, it is stated, increased their offer to the Government from 8000 acres
to 20,000 acres, as they mean business now. I hope they will come to terms,
as it would do good for the district. Bridge's There is a new bridge over
the Pareora River at Cannington Crossing, which is a great benefit to the
settlers in the back blocks. It has six spans of 32ft each, and is built of
timber. The river had to be confined to make the water run under the bridge.
The engineer to the Waimate County Council designed the bridges, and they
are a credit to him. He found it necessary to go 15 chains up the river and
build groins of -stones to get the water to run in the direction required. A
wall of boulders 80ft long, 8ft broad at the bottom, 4ft high, and 4ft broad
at the top, was built, and the boulders being enclosed in wire netting made
for the purpose. The netting is all around the wall, and tied on the top so
the river cannot wash, it away. There are two more walls lower down, built
in the same way, but of smaller size. There is also a wall 28ft long to keep
the river from running by the end of the bridge. It is worth anyone's while
to have a look at the work done at this bridge, as it would give farmers and
those who have rivers and creeks that take away their land an object lesson
as to how to keep them in their place. It may be mentioned that the large
wall is built right across the stream, and when floods come the water runs
by the end in midstream, and it has proved a great success.

Otago Witness 30 March 1904, Page 6
At the ballot- for the Levels Estate (now the Rosewill Settlement) on the 18th inst. (says the Timaru
Post) the Commissioner mentioned that the Laud Board had determined to use
every means in their power to prevent gambling in Crown lands. This remark
was occasioned through a selector who had been successful at the ballot in
the morning making application in the afternoon to be allowed to forfeit his
section and have it re-balloted. The Commissioner said the board set its
free against this kind of thing. If the applicant had made the request
immediately he secured his section it might have been allowed, but he had
let over an hour elapse, and the board did not know what might have
transpired in the meantime, though he would not for a moment think of
suggesting that any dishonesty had been intended in this case. But if they
allowed the request it would be opening a door which they had determined to
close, and successful applicants who refused to take up their sections would
have to forfeit their deposits, even though such deposits amounted to �100.
Another thing the Commissioner mentioned was that a good many applicants had
resented being so strictly examined as to their financial position. But he
could assure these people that if they knew the decision that had been practised on the board in the past they would agree, that the inquiries now
made were none too strict. To use a common expression, the board had been
"had" in the past, and they had determined as far as possible, to prevent a
repetition of this kind of thing in the future.

Evening Post, 23 March 1912, Page 11SHERWOOD DOWNS STATION.
TIMARU, 22nd March. The ballot for the Sherwood Downs Station subdivisions took
place to-day. There were 223 applicants for 16 farms and 10 grazing runs.
Seventeen South Canterbury applicants were successful, the others being from
North Canterbury and Otago. The homestead fell to Mr. E. S. Forbes, of Waihao
Downs. The deposits with applications totalled �29,000.

Evening Post, 27 April 1911, Page 6The Government has purchased for closer settlement the property in South
Canterbury known as Sherwood Downs. The property, which is about twenty miles
from Fairlie, consists of 12,000 acres of freehold and some 50,000 acres of
leasehold land. The purchase price is in the neighbourhood of �70,000. Besides
providing land for closer settlement, the acquisition of the property will
facilitate the settlement of an area of Crown lands of about 45,000 acres.

Ashburton Guardian, 23 March 1912, Page 7 LAND
BALLOT.
THE SHERWOOD ESTATE
TIMARU, March 22. At the ballot for the Sherwood Estate to-day there
were 223 applicants for sixteen farms and ten grazing runs. A sum of
�29,000 was put down with the applications and the following were the
successful applicants -.

Evening Post, 28 March 1912, Page 8
MOUNT PEEL LANDS THE BALLOT.
ASHBURTON, This Day.
The ballot for the Mount Peel runs took place here this morning. There were 958
applications for the five sections, and the result was as follows:
No. 98, containing 6653 acres, 190 application � James Parr, Gleniti, Timaru.
No. 99, of 3546 acres, 192 applicants � Charles Waters Kimbell, Fairlie.
No. 100, containing 4500 acres, 178 applicants � Robert Davidson, Sydenham.
No. 101, of 3312 acres, 164 applicants � Leonard William Connolly, Timaru.
No. 102, containing 3230 acres, 261 applicants � John Armstrong, Belfast.
Pastoral run No. 241, consisting of 33,600 acres, the upset rental of which, is
�440 per. annum, and the term 21 years, and which adjoins the Mount Peel Estate,
in respect of which the conditions included a provision, that the successful
bidder must pay for improvements valued at �525 be, was offered by auction at
the same time. Bidding started at �440, and rose to �675, at which figure it was
acquired by Thomas Francis Slowey, of Timaru.

Evening Post, 21 May 1910, Page 9
TIMARU, 19th May. The ballot for Clandeboye Settlement, suitable for
dairy purposes, took place at Temuka to-day. For the 13 sections there
were 114 applicants, 102 going to the ballot. There were no applications
from the North Island.

North Otago Times, 20 September 1877, Page 2Pareora, Sept. 17. " Blow, ye winds blow" is applicable to this district at the
present time. We were visited on the 13th with a most terrific N.W. gale, which
continued until nearly sun-down, when it veered to the S. W., ending with a gale
of snow. This winter has been one of intense frost and cold - the frost
continuing at night up to the present time, with alternate showers of snow and
rain through the day. Yesterday (Sunday) the clouds seemed to open from the S.
W., and threatened destruction to everything by wind and hail, the storm
continuing for a long time. As there is very little farming, however, in this
district the weather is not so injuriously felt as would otherwise be the case.
There are but few scattered patches of land in crop, and the most of it is
looking miserable � some in the extreme. There are large tracts of fine
agricultural land all around here, but the most of it has passed into a few
hands. Mr Elworthy, of the Holme Station, holds alone from 50,000 to 60,000
acres freehold, and a great percentage of it fine agricultural land, a good few
thousand acres laid down in English grasses, and a great quantity under
preparation for next year's crop; and then again there are Pareora and Levels
Stations held by a company, and used exclusively for sheep farming. On these
three properties alone had they been surveyed and sold in 250 or 300 acre
blocks, there would have been a comfortable living for a thousand farmers,
whereas I suppose the three combined do not employ over fifty hands all the year
round. But who is to blame? Certainly not the owners. They paid their money and
got the land. I daresay we would all have been large land owners if we had had
the wherewithal. The weather is still boisterous, and if it continues so much
longer it will play sad havoc amongst the lambs, but despite the weather, I
observed the other day a flock of ewes at the Washdyke with a magnificent crop
of lambs ; indeed, a passenger by the train remarked, " Be jabers, every mother
had a lamb." I need not tell you his nationality.

Evening Post, 5 December 1878, Page 2Timaru. 3rd December.
J. T. Ford and Co. held a sale of land, the Pareora estate, to-day. The
Mechanics' Institute was crowded with anxious buyers, and the bidding was
spirited. 3082 acres 3 roods were sold, realising �41.155 18s 6d, an average
of �13 7s per acre. They afterwards sold 40 sections in St. Andrews
township, which realised �1217, an average of �30 9s an acre.

Otago Witness 15 Dec. 1883 pg 18The Waihorunga estate, South Canterbury, of 17,990 acres freehold,
748 acres leasehold (14 years from November 14, 1879), has been sold to John
Holmes, M.H.R., for �82,500.

Otago Witness, 2 March 1899, Page 14
SALE OF RUNS The sale of pastoral licenses of 14 runs by public auction at
the Land Office, Timaru, on Tuesday (says the Herald) attracted a good deal
of attention. For the first run, part of Mount Peel station, upset rental
�90, the competition, was good, and biddings quickly rose to �135. For the
next run the competition was so spirited that it created a sensation, and
the remark "there's money in the country yet."- The upset was �112, and by
�10 bids the offers rose to �302. Competition was also spirited for the next
run, for, starting at the upset �94, �204 was reached by �10 advances before
the sale ended. Competition was also good for the next lot, but with the
exception of a good tussle between two bidders for small run 204, the other
lots elicited no competition. The total of the upset annual rental (omitting
the rental for the two runs for which there were no offers) was �738, and
the total of rentals secured at auction was �1140. The purchasers were: �
Run No. 232, Hakateramea, situated on the slopes of the Station Peak
range.� At upset. �147 13s 2d, Mrs P. E. J. Parker.
Run No. 3, part of Mount Peel Station; upset, �90.� �135, F. H. Barker.
Run No. 4a, about 13 miles from Geraldine, in the Orari Gorge; upset, �112.
� �302, T. Blair.
Run No. 4b, about 11 miles from Geraldine, at the commencement of the Orari
Gorge: upset, �94.� �204, R. Thew.
Run No. 4c, about 14 miles from Geraldine, along the Peel Forest road;
upset, �40.� �75, J. Sealey.
Run No. 48, part of Waimate station, about eight miles from Waimate. � At
upset �145, N.Z.L. and MA. Co. .
Run No. 49, ditto, about five miles from Waimate.� At upset, �140, N.Z.L.
and M. A. Company.
Run No. 67, Akatarawa station, about 18 miles from Hakateramea railway
station; upset, �850.� N0 offer.
Run No. 204, Waitaki River, about seven miles south of Hakateramea railway
station; upset, �8. �630, Mr Henderson.
Run No. 205, Hakateramea River, about 20 miles up the Hakateramea River from
the railway station; a narrow strip of land lying between the river and the
road; upset, �16. � No offer.
Run No. 90, part of Tasman Island station, in the Tasman River; all soft
swamp in the centre, with only a "fringe all round the outside on which
cattle can run.� At upset, �2O, M. M'Leod.
Run No. 91, ditto, immediately north of run No. 90 ; also an island in the
Tasman River.� At upset, �15, M. McLeod
Run No. 207, Tasman River; a narrow strip of land lying between the road and
the river- At upset, �14, M. M'Leod.
Run No. 206, and Plantation Reserve, part of Ben Ohau station, about five
miles from Lake Pukaki Hotel, and in the centre of run No. 87, Ben Ohau. �
At upset, �80, J. Preston. The term of license for runs Nos. 3, 4a, 4b, 4c,
90, 91, 207, and 206 and reserve 2928 is 10 years, and for runs 48 and 49,
14 years.

Timaru Herald Wednesday 6 September 1899 EditorialWhat South Canterbury wants is an expansion of settlement on farms medium size,
for to tie people down to bits of land too small to yield them a fair living is
a sort of folly of which there has already been far too much in New Zealand. We
understand that after Messrs McKerrow, Weetman and McMillan have visited the
Elworthy property, they will inspect Mr James Sullivan's Level Valley farm, The
Brothers farm near Totara Valley, in each instance the object being to ascertain
whether the land is suitable for close settlement. The Government cannot to a
wiser thing than promote settlement in this part of the colony by the purchase
and cutting up of suitable estates.

North Otago Times, 23 April 1879, Page 3 THE BANKFIELD ESTATE.
MESSRS. J. T. FORD AND CO. (in conjunction with Messrs. MACLEAN and STEWART),
have been favored with instructions from H. J. Sealey, Esq., to offer for sale
by public auction in THE LONG ROOM or the GROSVENOR HOTEL, TIMARU, ON TUESDAY,
the 20th MAY, 1879. At 3 p.m. sharp.

THE BANKFIELD ESTATE. Consisting of � 1447 Acres of Freehold Land And 1780 Acres of Leasehold Land.
On the Freehold is erected a Dwelling house of Five Rooms, with substantial Out-
buildings, Yards, &c., and all that is necessary for the working of the Farm. It
is subdivided into Nine Paddocks, and laid down as follows: English Grass 607 Acres
In Fallow for Wheat ... 181 AcresIn Stubble for Oats ... 555 AcresIn Tussock and Swamp .. 104 Acres
The Leasehold Land consists of 1780 acres, with 10 years of lease to run, at a
low annual rental, and is laid down, and in crop.THE BANKFIELD ESTATE Is situate on the South Bank of the Otaio, and the
Homestead is within three miles of the St. Andrews Railway Station. The Terms
will be stated at time of sale ; and for further particulars, apply to J. T.
FORD & Co., (Or Maclean and Stewart) Auctioneers, etc., Timaru.

Otago Witness, 19 December 1900, Page 34
At Timaru, on Saturday, the Bankfield estate, of 2000 acres, on the south
bank of the Otaio River, near the Main south load and railway, was submitted
to auction by Messrs Matson and Co., and Guiness and LeCren, for the owners,
a Christchurch syndicate. Only two of the smaller lots were sold at auction
at �13 and �12 10s an acre; another was passed in at �11, and the rest of
the dozen lots elicited no bids. Within a couple of hours, however, five
more lots had been disposed of privately. Some town properties were also
offered, but no business was done.

Evening Post, 30 May 1893, Page 2 Land for Settlements Act.
RE-PURCHASE OF A RICH ESTATE. Dunedin, 29th May. The Government has just
negotiated the purchase of 620 acres of rich agricultural land on the
Pareora Estate, near Timaru, belonging to the New Zealand and Australian
Land Company. It is understood that a Village Settlement will be formed
there.

North Otago Times, 26 April 1897, Page 3
Timaru, April 25.
The Eskbank Estate, seven miles from St. Andrews railway station, was
offered at auction here on Saturday for the Assets Realisation Board. In all
4810 acres were divided into 21 farms. There was a large and representative
attendance at the auction, but the sale was rather poor, only four lots
being disposed of :
Lot 1, 258 acres. L5 2s 6d, to Mr Hendry ;
lot 16, 202 acres, LG 5s, to Mr J Smith ;
lot 17, 107 acres, L5 15s, to Mr A. Copeland ;
lot 19), 181 acres, L6 14s 6d, Mr J. Hampton.
Three others were taken up after the sale. Some bids were within 2s 6d of
the reserve, and from the many inquiries made the lots no doubt will all
sell.

Otago Witness, 24 May 1900, Page 61
Dear Dot, � I have not missed a day from school since the Christmas
holidays, and I am trying for an attendance prize. We have got two black and
white pups, and they are such amusing little creatures. I can ride now. We
were just going to put up a jump when the snow came. There were a lot of
people in Fairlie yesterday at the land ballot, raid they had a barrel of
marbles to see who should get the land. I put a dog in the show but it did
not take a prize. Daddy put in a collection of vegetables. I have got a
Sunday school prize. � Yours truly, FAIRLIE GILLINGHAM.

North Otago Times, 6 December 1900, Page 3 Bruce Christie & Co.
Guiness & LeCren.BANKFIELD ESTATE, St. Andrews, Timaru comprising 2000 acres of magnificent
grain-growing and Sheep Country, And known as South Canterbury's model farm. The
date fixed for the sale of the above Estate is Saturday, 15th December, 1900, At
12 o'clock noon, At the Rooms of Guinness & LeCren, Timaru. The estate will be
offered in Twelve different Farms, of 120 Acres up to 618 with the Homestead and
Buildings, Plans showing the Subdivision can be obtained from the Auctioneers.

Otago Witness, 19 December 1900, Page 34At Timaru, on Saturday, the Bankfield estate, of 2000 acres, on the south bank
of the Otaio River, near the Main south load and railway, was submitted to
auction by Messrs Matson and Co., and Guinness and LeCren, for the owners, a
Christchurch syndicate. Only two of the smaller lots were sold at auction at �13
and �12 10s an acre; another was passed in at �11, and the rest of the dozen
lots elicited no bids. Within a couple of hours, however, five more lots had
been disposed of privately.

Otago Witness, 12 June 1901, Page 16The Timaru Herald learns that Mr R. H. Rhodes has offered to the Government Land
Purchase Board, at the Government valuation, his Bluecliffs estate, less a
homestead of about 2000 acres. Bluecliffs adjoins the Kohika settlement,
recently purchased from Mr Teschemaker, and balloted for the other day. The
Bluecliffs estate comprises about 10,000 acres of freehold. At a meeting of
farmers at Timaru it was decided to establish a daily factory at Timaru.

Evening Post, 22 July 1901, Page 7To the EditorNow, Sir, I have been an applicant for land on the Ardgowan, Otaio, Catlin's
River, and Teschemaker's Settlement and have been unsuccessful every time. In
some cases every one where the land was situated in South Canterbury � I have
had to stand my chance amongst, from 10 to 25 applicants. There has never been
any difficulty in the matter of applicants for land in this district, and in
some cases there have been us many as 35 applicants for a block of good land.
Why the Government does not acquire and subdivide the Holme Station (Elworthy's)
or the Levels (New Zealand and Australian Lands) cannot be understood in this
locality. Were these estates acquired (as advocated by Major Steward) and
subdivided it would be a boom to every one, and the number of applicants for
sections would, I feel sure, be a good � I am, etc., EDWIN WILLCOCK. Springbrook,
St. Andrew's, Timaru. 20th July, 1901.

Otago Witness, 6 August 1902, Page 10 LAND for SETTLEMENTS. Wellington, August 1. The Land Purchase Inspector, reporting to the Minister of
Lands upon the transaction under "The Land for Settlements Act, 1900," during
the year ended March, 1902, says: � The number of properties offered during the
year was 110, containing 452,518 acres. The recommendations of the board were
accepted by the Government for 29 estates, and purchases were completed of 24
properties, containing 82,887 acres, for which �406,576 was paid. The names of
the estates paid for during the year are : 3864 Kohika for
�28,093, Kaimahi, Kapuatohe, Lyndon No. 2,
Maytown, Puheka, 745 acres Raincliff for �2424,
Rapuwai, and Runal, in Canterbury; ...

New Zealand Tablet, 18 September 1902, Page 19
Timaru. It is a source of great satisfaction in the district that the
Government are treating with the proprietors of the Levels Estate for 48,300
acres for Lands Settlement purpose. This will be an immense boon to the
district and will be a cessation to the persistent cry made election after
election for the cutting up of the Levels. Six thousand acres of the
Stratanan estate and 2000 acres of the Strathallan estate are also under the
consideration of the Land Board.

Feilding Star, 23 November 1909, Page 2
The Government has decided to purchase from Mr S. McCully, for close
settlement purposes, 500 acres of land near Temuka. It is propose: to cut
the property up into small dairy farms.

Otago Witness, 31 January 1906, Page 21SALE OF STATION PROPERTY. The National Mortgage and Agency Company, of New
Zealand (Limited) reports the sale of the following farm properties, all at
satisfactory prices : 140 acres, Kingsdown, to James Craigie; 74 acre dairy farm near Temuka;139 acres, goodwill of lease in perpetuity on Pareora No. 2 Settlement;
315 acres near St. Andrews; 632 acres near Otaio; 457 acres, goodwill of lease in perpetuity, Rosewill Settlement;229 acres, goodwill of lease in perpetuity, Rosewill Settlement.

Press, 7 July 1906, Page 9
The Land Board met, on Thursday. N Present�-Messrs A. C. Pringle, (in the
chair), J. Sealy, J. Allan, and J. Stevenson. Eight applicants for section
in the Highbank Settlement were examined. Seven were passed for admission to
the ballot, and one was rejected as ineligible. The ballot for these
sections and one in Morven Township was held in the afternoon, the
successful applicants being Messrs John Spring, Charles Walter Pluck,
Charles Boyes, and Mrs Margaret Spring. The applications of Mrs Thomas
White, Thomas White, junr., Thomas Henry McGirr were granted without ballot.

Hawera & Normanby Star, 3 February 1908, Page 5LAND SALE. Timaru, February 2. At the auction sale of J. Wilson's Allandale
estate at Fairlie, of 8000 acres, cut into 34 lots, seven lots, totalling 1177
acres, were sold at from �7 10s to �10 12s 6d per acre, an average of �9 6s 6d.
The rest passed at from �6 2s 6d to �10 per acre. There was a large attendance,
but apparently not many bidders.

Hawera & Normanby Star, 25 November 1910, Page 7
Timaru, Nov. 25. A ballot for sections in meadow settlement, at Washdyke,
four miles from Timaru, took place to-day. Eleven sections were secured and
three remain un allotted.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, 12 November 1912,
Page 2
BIG CANTERBURY RECORD. Wellington. November 1. A return obtained by the
member for Waitaki shows that the Land for Settlements scheme has been
actively carried out m that electorate. The following shows the amounts
spent to purchase estates m Waitaki electorate, with, the loading and actual
expenditure for roads:

Evening Post, 11 July 1910, Page 8About 5000 acres of Crown lands in South Canterbury will be opened for selection
shortly, probably in August. The largest of the three settlements will be at
Ruapuna, near Geraldine, where about 4000 acres, popularly known as Ballantyne's
Estate, will be allotted. Four hundred acres, comprising the No. 2 Clandeboye
Settlement, and 500 acres at Kohika will also be disposed of by ballot.

Evening Post, 25 October 1912, Page 7A Press Association message states that a private cablegram was received in
Christchurch yesterday by Messrs. Gould, Beaumont and Co., conveying news of the
sudden death in London of Mr. Joseph Gould well known in business circles
in Christchurch. Death occurred, at Mr. Gould's London residence, Cadogan-place,
on 22nd October, from heart trouble. Mr. Gould was the eldest son of Mr. George
Gould, who came to Christchurch from Auckland in 1851. Mr. Joseph Gould was born
in 1852, and received his education at Christ's College. In order to acquire
business training and experience he entered the office of an important firm of
colonial merchants in London, and on returning to New Zealand became secretary
of the New Zealand Shipping Company, which had then only recently been formed.
In the year 1878 he left the service of the shipping company, and with Mr. John
Lewis founded the firm of Lewis and Gould, subsequently, Gould, Beaumont and Co.
The deceased married an Edinburgh lady, and in 1904 he severed his connection
with the firm and left New Zealand to take up permanent residence in England. He
still took interest in New Zealand, however, and visited the Dominion several
times since 1904. Mr Gould was closely identified with a number of important
commercial enterprises in Christchurch and in the Dominion. He was a director of
the New Zealand Shipping Company, and held office on both the local board and
the London board. He was also a director of the Christchurch Press Company, the
Christchurch Gas Company, and the Permanent Investment and Loan Society. Mr.
Gould was the principal owner of the Sherwood Downs Estate, South Canterbury,
which was" acquired by the Government last year for closer settlement.

Evening Post, 11 February 1913, Page 3LONDON, 3rd January.
Mr.
Joseph Gould, of Cadogan-place, Chelsea, who died on 22nd October, left estate
of the gross value of �112,333, of which �105,201 is net personally. He gave
�4000 upon trust for the purchase of an annuity for the benefit of his sister,
Lydia Otterson, directing that this annuity shall be expended for her additional
personal comfort, and shall not be saved or hoarded, and that his trustees
shall- require a declaration before each half-yearly payment that the previous
payment has been so expended. �1000 to his station manager and friend, John
Dunnett, late, of Sherwood Downs, Fairlie, New Zealand, "in recognition of many
years', devoted service, for which I tender to him my best thanks." �1000 to his
sister, Gertrude Macdonald, for the purchase of jewels and pictures when she
shall next come to England. �8500 to the trustees of- the marriage settlement of
his sister, Jessie Bowden ; and �1000 to his half-sister, Mabel Hannen. The
residue goes to his wife for life, and then �2500 is to be paid to his niece,
Etta Bradshaw; �7500 to his nephew, Victor Bradshaw; �2500 to his nephew,
Ronald Asher; and �7500 to his niece, Evelyn Asher, and the ultimate residue as
to two-sevenths in trust for his sister, Jessie Bowden, and her issue,
two-sevenths in trust for his sister, Annie Sinclair Thompson, and her issue,
and three-sevenths for the children of his deceased brother, Charles Gould. The
Public Trustee is made executor of the will, which is dated 27th April, 1912.

Evening Post, 20 June 1914, Page 9 Land for Settlement
Timaru, 19th June. Mr. Ritchie, chairman of the Land Purchase Board, was
here to-day inspecting farms offered to the Government. The government has
concluded the purchase of 3600 acres of Mr. Teschemaker's Otaio Estate,
omitting the homestead. Nearly all of though land is suitable, for grain
growing. Mr. Ritchie made an offer for 200 acres at Washdyke for workers'
homes, but it was not accepted.

Finlay Downs - Otaio 1915. 2113 acres divided up into five farms.

Otago Witness, 19 April 1905, Page 15 EVIDENCE AT FAIRLIE.
FAIRLIE, April 6.
The Land Commission drove to-day from Fairlie, through Portion of the
Mackenzie Country, to Tekapo and back, a distance of 54 miles in all. The
Mackenzie Country was looking remarkably well, better than I have ever seen
it on occasional visits during the past 15 years, there being an abundance
of grass, both on the low and also on the high country. On the return
journey a halt was made at Burkes Pass, and the follow- in evidence taken

Robert Guthrie, holder of a grazing run on pastoral lease, and of a small
freehold, said' that he was well satisfied with his tenure. He had had 30
years' experience in the district. He thought the natural pastures were
improving. Any deterioration had been due to injudicious burning. If the
holdings were smaller a great improvement could be effected by
surface-sowing. No systematic efforts had yet been made in that direction.
On the Crown runs the large holdings could be subdivided in a satisfactory
manner, and the closer working that would result would more than meet the
cost of fencing. The minimum size in the back country should be sufficient
to carry 6000 sheep. He did not think it advisable to put. the plough into
the high lands, but be thought that Timothy, white clover, and cocksfoot
might be surface-sown in the valleys with success. The settlers generally
were desirous of seeing the runs subdivided, though they did not wish to
interfere with the existing lease, which would expire in about six years. He
did not think that there was any need for the to buy out freeholders in
order to provide winter country for the back runs. The Mackenzie Country
runs generally were understocked because the high price of sheep made it
unprofitable to risk losing any number. There would be a large demand for
the subdivided runs, provided that some security of tenure for a
considerable term were given and valuation was allowed at the termination of
the lease for increased carrying capacity. Land Boards should be elected on
the "parliamentary franchise, boroughs excluded, and should represent
smaller districts.

John Macgregor, holder of a small grazing run, did not think it would be
advisable to subdivide the Crown runs except very gradually, and he
considered that it would be very difficult to value any improvement due to
surface-sowing. The seed would not take except in the valleys and on the
damp faces. He would not approve of the granting of the option to purchase
the freehold of Crown holdings, as, unless the freehold were under the same
restrictions as the leaseholds, the only result would be the aggregation of
large estates.

George Hamilton, holder of 46,000 acres of Crown grazing run on 21 years'
lease, and 900 acres of freehold, said that he had surface-sown some 200
acres. The low-lying land and gullies had been decidedly improved, but the
seed had not taken to any extent on the dry spurs. Probably about 10 per
cent, of his holding could be surfaces own to advantage. He had signed the
document presented to the commission on the previous day asking for
reasonable security of tenure and valuation for actual improvements. The
tenant would not spend large sums of money on a run if it was to be put up
at auction at, the end of 21 years, and he should have the option of
renewal, the rent to be fixed by arbitration. It was ridiculous to talk of
having only 500 sheep on the Mackenzie Country, as one bad winter would ruin
a small man like that. He might last a few years, but then he would be wiped
out, and would leave in possession the man with 50,000 sheep. This statement
was greeted with disapprobation by some of the settlers present. William
Fielding Hamilton, holder of 30,000 acres of Crown land on a 21 years'
lease, and 6900 acres of freehold, said that he had seen surface-sowing
effect a great improvement, but had done none himself. He was satisfied with
his tenure, and agreed with the previous witness in that matter. He was
satisfied with the constitution of the Land Boards. It would be absurd to
subdivide the high runs, which had been already deprived of all summer
country. John Mackintosh, holder of a small Government leasehold in the
Mackenzie Country, said that he was quite satisfied with his tenure, but
found his holding of 1700 acres too small. He had surface-sown with
considerable success. He thought a small holder more likely to save his
6heep in winter than a large holder. The commission arrived at Fairlie at
7.20 p.m., after being on the move for l2 hours, snatched a hurried dinner,
and then at 8 p.m. held another meeting to take further evidence.

John Trotter, holder of a lease in perpetuity at Pungaroa, said he had no
desire for the freehold. He said that at a meeting held at Fairlie, attended
by several Crown tenants, five voted for the leasehold and one for freehold.
Two others, who were not Crown tenants, voted for the freehold. Land had
gone up in value all round. The leasehold properties had been put up to
their full value for rating, but the freehold properties had not been so
treated. That -was the only thing he saw in favour of the freehold. Four of
the Pungaroa lease in perpetuity holders had sold out. There were several
properties in the district that could be cut up for. closer settlement. The
Crown tenants at Pungaroa had refused to sign a petition forwarded by the
Farmers' Union in favour of the freehold. The tenants had not been harassed
by the rangers. Witness considered himself just as good as a freeholder :
and more so, because 90 per cent, of the freeholders had their lands
mortgaged. He did not think the Government should allow a man who had saved
�500 to use it in paying off part of the capital value of his holding. He
thought there should be no revaluation in connection with future leases, as
it would retard settlement.

Some 15 persons attended the meeting of the commission. but seemed reluctant
to give evidence. The Chairman called on an elderly man named John Ross, who
occupies a small grazing run and has had large experience in the Mackenzie
Country. He said surface-sowing would only take on the creek sides in the
gullies; it would not take on the hills nor on the dry plains. Some of the
runs in the district would cut up for closer settlement.

Otago Witness, 3 March 1909, Page 39
Closer Settlement.� The home farm on the Motukaika of 2500 acres is being
offered for sale in small farms on terms.

Grey River Argus, 15 March 1917, Page 3
TIMARU LAND BALLOT. SUCCESSFUL SOLDIERS,
TIMARU March 14,
The Land Board to-day by ballot disposed of live grazing runs and a
subdivision, part of the Clayton run near Fairlie and one at Burkes Pass
went to discharged soldiers. There were nine applicants for the six runs.
The successful men were�Caskey, Jones, Trotter and McConnel of Fairlie,
Galing, Christchurch and Guinness, Timaru. For eight farms at the Cricklewood
soldier settlement there were only two applicants and these were given a
farm each at the upset rental. They were: Horgan and Waddell, both of
Christchurch.

Otago Witness, 19 April 1905, Page 17
The Land Commission left Timaru at 7.20 a.m., and arrived at Geraldine
shortly after 9.
John Kelland, farmer, with 1300 acres freehold and 1100 acres
leasehold (Primary- School reserve), said he got no valuation for
improvements, and the lease was too short.
Robert Anderson, farmer, with a lease in perpetuity of rough,
stony country, complained of the restrictions in connection with the lease
in perpetuity.
Job Quantock, farmer, with a freehold and leasehold property,
spoke of the necessity of compensation for land washed away by floods.
George Murray, holding 68,000 acres under pastoral tenure and
1800 acres freehold near Mount Cook, spoke of the necessity of granting
renewals of leases, longer tenures, and valuations- for improvements. If the
runholders had better treatment in these respects they would improve the
land with plantations and by surface sowing.
Peter Friel, a lease in perpetuity settler, said he approved of that tenure,
but if the freehold came he would take it at the original value. There was a
great feeling amongst the Crown tenants in favour of the freehold.
Edward Lee England said he was perfectly satisfied, and had nothing special
to mention to the commission.
Robert Thew, holder of a pastoral lease at, Orari Gorge, gave
evidence similar to that given by the witness Murray. He had obtained good
results from surface sowing.

After lunch the commission drove back to Temuka through the Waiapi
Settlement. Temuka was reached at 4 o'clock, and a meeting was at once held
to take evidence.
John Talbot. chairman of the Geraldine County Council, said
he thought the Crown tenants should be given the option of the freehold at
the original value.
Californian thistle was increasing in the district, and would depreciate the
value of the land.
Walter Acton, who farms an agricultural lease, said he
thought it was absurd for either a man or the State to sign a lease for 999
years.
Michael O'Loughlin, a Crown tenant, complained that his
holding was too small. He was only allowed to crop half his land, but he
desired to crop all his land for three years and then put in down in grass
for three years, so that the latter three years he could sell his horses.
Daniel Angland, a Crown tenant at Albury, complained of the
cropping regulations. He thought the Crown tenants should have the option of
purchase.
Frank Green, a Crown tenant on Arowhenua, objected to the
cropping restrictions. He had broken the regulations, and the board had
warned him. At present too much capital was required of a man under the Land
for Settlements Act. He was satisfied with his tenure, but his holding was
too small. He required double the area, and thought he should have the right
to buy another man out. He did not think tenants should be punished for
breaking the regulations.
M. Lawler, a Crown tenant with a 40-acre farm, said the
cropping regulations should be altered. There was too much twitch in his
land. The Crown tenants should be allowed to work the land as they liked,
and tenants should be allowed to pay off at least two-thirds of the capital
value. Bad times would come, and the tenants would not be able to pay their
rent. He admitted having broken the cropping regulations.
James Davis, a Crown tenant with a farm of 20�
acres, complained of the local rating. He was satisfied with his tenure, but
thought he should be allowed to ballot for a larger section.
B. Horgan, farm labourer, holding 11 acres of land,
complained that his section was too small. He wanted to transfer it to his
sister, who had 58 acres adjoining, ; but he could not do so. Until he could
get rid of this section he could not ballot for a larger one.
Michael Scannell, farmer and threshingmachine proprietor,
said he saw a great deal of the tenants, and knew that there was a desire
amongst them to get the option of the freehold. They were afraid of their
present tenure. They also wanted discretionary power in regard to cropping.
Patrick Mitten, another Crown tenant, said that after five
years' occupation a man should be allowed to crop as he liked. Nearly every
Crown tenant in the district to whom he had spoken wanted the opinion
of paying off from 75 to 80 per cent of his capital value of his
section.

"Farmers have an attachment with the land
that goes beyond the financial and they want to pass that on."

Otago Witness, 19 July 1905, Page 4
A young man at a Southburn debate on Tuesday, according to the Timaru Herald,
pertinently asked the leaseholders the following: "If you were going to
choose a wife, whom would you choose � the daughter of a leaseholder or of a
freeholder?" This raised a laugh, but was answered later on by an
explanation that one should marry for love, and not for
bawbees.

PM TIPPING BIG FUTURE FOR WAIMATE
By Nathan Beaumont 19 July 2004 Timaru Herald
Prime Minister Helen Clark described Waimate as a town with an exciting future,
as more than 400 people turned up for the 150th anniversary celebrations on
Saturday. Ms Clark was the star attraction during the day, unveiling a gift of a
Maori canoe, donated by local Maori. The canoe was mainly crafted by local Maori
and is now on permanent display outside the Waimate District Council building.
The council has paid for a $6500 shelter for it. Ms Clark said she loved to see
communities celebrate their history and was impressed with the turnout on
Saturday. "It brings a sense of identity, a sense of heritage and it's important
to pass on the memories to younger generations," she said. "I have been here
over the years to visit Waimate and it's great to be back for a happy occasion
like this." Ms Clark revealed she had a family connection with the district,
saying her great great grandmother was buried in Awamoko up the Waitaki Valley.
"My great grandmother did win a ballot to get a farm in the Pareora No.2
Settlement in 1900. "The other connection with the district is when my mother
was a small child in the late 1920s, there was a terrible epidemic, I think of
scarlet fever, that went through Timaru. "The hospital was so overloaded that
they put the overload out at the Waimate hospital. "Mum still remembers being in
the Waimate hospital with her younger brother." She described Waimate as a
"peaceful and prosperous" part of South Canterbury and hoped it continued to do
well. "Waimate is part of a very successful region, the Canterbury region. "I
often say if all of New Zealand grew at the rate of Canterbury we would all be
more prosperous than we are." Ms Clark said it was good to see community events
such as the Strawberry Fare and the Busking Festival do so well, drawing
visitors from all around the country. "You are creating interest in what is
happening around the region." Waimate mayor David Owen said he was glad to have
Ms Clark in Waimate because the weekend was an important landmark for the
region. Local Maori representative Tamaiti Te Maiharoa, of Waitaha descendant,
said it had been a pleasure to build the canoe for the Waimate people. There was
also a service involving the arrival of Michael Studholme and Saul Shrives and
their meeting with Chief Te Huruhuru.

North Otago Times, 4 December 1889, Page 2
On the first of May next year about a quarter of a million acres of Crown lands
will be open for wile in the Canterbury district. Possession cannot be taken by
successful buyers until May, but the Minister of Lands intends to dispose of
110,000 acres in February, March, and April. The land will be opened as follows
: In February, about 7000 acres on the plains south of the Rakaia, 6000 acres on
the plains south of Rangitata, 17,000 acres on the hill slopes near Albury and
Fairlie Creek ; total, 30,000 acres. In March, 20,000 acres on the plains
between Ashburton and Hinds, and 15,000 acres on the hill slopes; total, 35,000.
In April, 25,000 acres on the plains between Hinds and Rangitata, 20,000 acres
on the hill slopes near Geraldine, 10,000 acres on the hill slopes at Station
Peak ; total, 45,000 ; grand total, 110,000. The balance will be disposed of
very soon afterwards.

Timaru Herald, 29 June 1893, Page 2
At the Timaru Land Office yesterday, Mr J. W. A. Marchant, Chief Commissioner of
Lands for Canterbury, sold by auction the leases for ten years of two small
grazing runs, lately part of the runs of the Hon J B. A. Acland and Mr. C. G.
Tripp. There were about twenty persons present at the sale. The first lot
corseted of two pieces of pastoral land on the bank of the Rangitata, seven
miles above Mount Peel Station homestead and 20 from Geraldine. The area of the
run is 1170 acres, and the upset price �73 2s 6d. Before the bidding commenced
the Chief Commissioner was asked by one of there present if the present holders
could take these runs and work them with their own, or whether their sons could
do so. Mr Marchant replied that anyone could take them who could sign the
declaration. There seemed to be several bidders at the start, but presently the
competition was restricted to two, and at �127 the contest ceased and the run
was knocked down to the Hon. J. B. A. Acland, whose son had been the bidder. Mr
Marchant asked if he had the declaration, and Mr Acland said he had. The second
run is on Mr C.G. Tripp's Orari run, area 1500, term of lease 10 years, upset
rental �63 10s. The upset was offered for this, for Mr C. G Tripp, by one of his
sons, and no other bid being made, the run was sold to him.

Star 24 April 1896, Page 2
An ordinary meeting of the. Canterbury Land Board was held on Wednesday,-,
present�Messrs J. W. A. Marchant.(Commissioner of Crown Lands), D. M'Millan, A.
C. Pringle and R. Meredith.
It was decided to call upon- those lessees of holdings in the Pareora and Kapua
Settlements who had not complied with conditions to show cause at the next
meeting of the Board why their leases should not be forfeited. It was resolved
to declare the following leases forfeited for non-payment of. rents : J. Hunt,
M. Lyons, J. James, J. Fogfuty, P. Ryder and D. Murphy, Waimate ; J. Campbell
and M. Broham, Studholme Junction, D. O'Connor, W. Dwyer and G.. Smith, Hinds.
A. Exley Arowhenua Village Settlement

Ashburton Guardian, 29 February 1916, Page 7 OLD HISTORY.
At the sale of the Pakihi and Waitui lands on Tuesday at Temuka, in winding up
the late Angus Macdonald's trusts, Mr Tripp who read the conditions of sale,
mentioned that the Waitui lots comprised parts of three rural sections, for
which he produced the original Crown grants�one to
the late Angus Macdonald, of Orari, stockowner, for 20 acres, dated May, 1866;
another to the late Alfred Cox, of Geraldine, dated November, 1865, also for 20
acres;
and the third to the late Dr. Alfred Charles Barker, of Christchurch, surgeon,
for 105 acres, dated June, 1862.
All these sections were sold by the Crown at 10s per acre. The grants were
signed by C. Davie and Thomas Cass as chief surveyors, Sir George Grey as
Governor, William Guise Brittan as Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Charles C.
Bowen signed the 1862 one as Land Registrar. The section granted to Dr. Barker
includes the land on which the old Waitui homestead now stands.

Otago Witness 21 October 1908, Page 40
FAIRLIE (South Canterbury).
October 14.� This inland centre has of late years come so much to the front that
I have been wondering why its good folk are content to hide its light under the
proverbial bushel of obscurity. Possibly it is that the old conservative,
stay-at-home, contented fathers in whose hands the public well-being has in the
past been, entrusted have not awakened to the importance of its uplifting and
consequent advanced importance, a matter that must materially change, with the
advent of the moving spirit inculcated by the fast-changing and moving
propensities of the many new arrivals en the district: so many that the old
residents are becoming conspicuous by their absence, and the good old estates
are fast disappearing. Though a sure sign of the advancement of a district,
nevertheless these changes are necessarily fraught with deep regrets � the
passing of the old order of thing, and the attending associations and
friendships. Yet though our old friends may extend to the later settlers and
residents a whole-hearted welcome, their departure must ever be regretted. The
old estates are being subdivided for closer settlement, and naturally extended
productiveness. One of these in close proximity to this district is Three
Springs, now a most thriving settlement known as Pimaroa. "Source of supply". I
understand, is the Maori meaning of the appropriate name, or, as some have it. "
Storehouse of goods," literally a place of productiveness. The Allandale
property, of some 8000 acres, was last fall cut up and offered for sale, with
the result that rather more than half is now sold in a number of various-sized
farms. More recently the Misses M'Lean followed Mr J. Wilson's example and
offered several farms of their Strathconnan Estate with marked success. The
balance of the property, bar a limited area encircling the principal residence,
was submitted at auction, but failed to attract the attention, anticipated, only
one small block of 70 acres finding a purchaser in a representative of the South
Canterbury Hospital Department for a sanatorium site, for which it is eminently
suited. I understand there are several more would-be buyers in the field, so no
doubt more new settlers will soon be with us. The quality of the land is
satisfactory, and the climate second to none in the Dominion. The selling price
of land generally is most reasonable, compared with quality and convenient
situation, etc.. to the township, with its compact set of offices for all
business, school, churches, bank, and telephone, and gaslighting for streets,
offices, and private residences, and even quite recently a fire brigade. This
latter was coincident with a regrettable frequency of disastrous fires. It is
interesting also to note another coincidence in connection with these
conflagrations, the whole four occurring on Saturday night, and when the weather
was very calm, otherwise the results would have been most destructive.

Ashburton Guardian 8 December 1916 Page 7 IN CANTERBURY
DISTRICT.
WELLINGTON, December 7. The total area being prepared for settlement for soldier
settlers is 59,033 acres, made- up as follows:— Acres.
Cheviot Estate 3,453
Rollesby Run 12,570
Clayton Run ... 12,800
Lees Valley-Run ... ... .26,202
"Paddy's Market" 2,207
Bray's and Willis's Farms (near Fairlie) ... .... 1,750
The whole of this land is suitable for sheep, except the latter, which is
agricultural land.

Grey River Argus, 29 January 1919, Page 3 OUR SOLDIERS.
LAND FOR SOLDIERS South Canterbury area.
TIMARU, January 28. Yesterday, Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands,
motored from Christchurch to Fairlie. He visited the Soldiers Settlements at
Clayton and received a deputation there, which suggested the purchase of the
remainder of the Clayton area for soldiers. It was intimated that the owner
was willing to negotiate, if the land were needed for soldiers.
A deputation at Fairlie recommended the purchase of 3000
acres (three farms) near Fairlie for. closer settlement. The Minister
inspected the land this morning, and considered the request sympathetically.
Another deputation urged that one, or two runs in the Mackenzie Country,
whose leases were nearly up, should be disposed of in small runs.
This morning Mr Guthrie inspected the Cricklewood soldiers'
settlement and gave the engineer directions to report on the possibility of
getting a water supply.